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MESSIAH OF EVIL / DEAD PEOPLE

“They say nightmares are dreams perverted…”

In further tribute to my friend Michael Greer I thought we should take a look at what has become a true cult classic in the horror genre. The Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz’ production of MESSIAH OF EVIL (working title DEAD PEOPLE), a film that has continued to grow in stature, even though it is almost impossible to get a decent print of it to watch, even now with almost every obscure Euro trash classic prepped for the DVD market. As I mentioned earlier I was on the set of this film in 1973 and managed to work two days. The only bit that remains on film is my leap out of a car in the darkness during the garage scene where the mechanic is killed and lifted up on the rack to bleed to death. I was in a kind of zombie make-up, sporting a greenish face for a scene on the beach where all the town’s transformed people gather at dusk to feed by the bonfires. It was a low-budget affair, make no mistake, however many of the folks behind the cameras went on to work in major productions in Hollywood. The two writer/directors would go on to do the infamous HOWARD THE DUCK, a film still not to be believed by those who actually sat through it like me. I finally left when the duck pulled a condom out of his wallet, in case you are wondering.

At the time, I had no idea what this film might turn out to be. All of the scenes shot by the ocean seemed to disappear from the final cut I have seen on various VHS tape copies. From what I can remember, the film seemed like a kind of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD homage with a bit of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATHCERS thrown in, with all the residents of Point Dune transforming into fresh eating zombies.

The only name actor I remember being around was the delightfully daft Joy Bang. I pissed her off the first time we met by asking if she was any relation to THE Bangs of San Diego? Well it seemed funny to me at the time. She was a very striking young woman who had made some real headway with some of the crew by the time I arrived, if you get my drift.

Looking back, the film plays like a phantasmagoria, with scenes that just seem to fade away as you are watching, much like a waking nightmare. This is exactly the type of horror film my friend Larry Fessenden is making at the moment. His films like WENDIGO address the folk lore of the American Indian much like MESSIAH OF EVIL brings the myth of the Donner Party into the mix as a reason for the Devil to return his son, the dark stranger, back every hundred years for the Blood Moon.

Every time I watch this film it seems to change in the way I perceive it. The two veteran actors Royal Dano and Elisha Cook Jr excel in their respective roles. Cook seems to be channeling Dwight Frye’s characterization of Herman from THE VAMPIRE BAT as the town drunk who relates his tale of horror to Michael in the motel room, a truly creepy performance by a wonderful character actor. Royal Dano gives his all in the final confrontation with his daughter in a performance I wish my friend Donald Cammell had seen, as it reminds me of WHITE OF THE EYE in tone.

I should also point out that the famous and talented film-maker Morgan Fisher not only was the principal editor on this film, but plays the role of the gallery assistant to the deaf, dumb and blind art dealer in one of the daylight sequences in the town.

MEESIAH OF EVIL is that sly combination of art and horror that mark films like CARIVAL OF SOULS or LETS SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH. The story line is simple, yet you never truly understand what is going on beyond the fact that a young woman has come to the town of Point Dune to try and locate her father who has all but vanished, leaving a house by the beach empty except for some very surreal bits of art, some of which is painted right into the very house itself. The Art direction by Jack Fisk and photography by Stephen Katz are brilliant, and both men went on to great Hollywood careers. Jack did the art direction for one of my all time favorite films, De Palma’s PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, and Stephen photographed Bill Condon’s GODS AND MONSTERS.

The character Michael Greer plays is difficult to understand to say the least. He is brought in as what could be called a red herring, since on one hand he knows a great deal about the city and the myth of the dark stranger, yet is still asking questions around town… It is with the film’s flashbacks to the Donner party and the dark one who survives the tragedy, to roam the wilderness and spread his evil. Michael always referred to his role of Thom as “the devil’s son” and had his face been more exposed in those flash back moments we would be clearer as to his purpose. His character just disappears after a fashion and we never really know if he then returns at the film’s end as the dark one to finish transforming the town and perhaps the world with flesh-eating zombies, much like the folks up the road in Santa Mira. Where is Kevin McCarthy when you need him?

MESSIAH OF EVIL remains a film in desperate need of a full-scale revival on DVD, with commentaries and all the bells and whistles the format can provide. Are you listening over there at Criterion? I know that it will come out one day as word of mouth has already made this film a cause celebre among the connoisseurs of the Horror genre, and when it does I hope the spirit of Michael Greer is somewhere close by to savor his “performance” as the heterosexual man looking very dapper in a white three piece suit
Although as the devils son he could be Bisexual after all… just kidding Michael..

“In order to live they will take you one by one….and no one will hear you scream….”
(Ad campaign for the film)

Until next time may all your nightmares come in Hi Definition with Blu Ray capabilities

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